Xaverians - Nihil Ultra :)

So, I spent twelve years of my life at this place, being brought up like a god missionary-trained boy. :) St Xaviers Collegiate School, Calcutta, was formed in 1860, and since then has become one of the best private schools in the city. Our nearest competitors are La Martinierre for Boys, whom we would call La Farts! :) Of course, they copied our uniforms and tried to be as cool as us - they were the brats, while we were the so-called 'gentlemen'. :)

Aa, and all the Jesuit priests! :) Father Boris D'santos, our strict Prefect and his cane - of which I got a couple of swipes now and then. :) And some of the teachers - AC, or s Chow, as we used to acll her, during my 9 and 10 standards, and Guha Roy during 11 and 12. :)

School had two gates, and the field was behind the main building, where the 'back gate' opened up, right next to the gymnasium (up there). While I now think the gym is full of old-world charm in it's porch-like look, I hated the place during my school years - that was where I huffed and pffed my way through horrendous exercises and calisthenics. And remember, I was a pudgy schoolboy. :)

Out through the back gate, and there was 'Delights', home of idlis and 'fountain pepsi'! And right next to it was the primary school - five years spent here. :)

Proud of our motto, proud of our badge,
Proud of our colours, proud of our flag.
Nihil Ultra, Nothing Beyond,
Be it in studies or on the playground...

So let's all give a lusty cheer
Fo'r our school so dear!
HURRAH!

Gosh, I don't remember any more of the anhthem, I'm afraid, and I haven't been able to find it online anywhere, which is a bit surprising!

Even further back on the timescale, there was Mongrace Montessori School, a stone's throw away from Xaviers. That was where I soent my fiurst schooling years, chubby as anything, and quite the prankster (I believe), and a penchant for pulling girls' pigtails! :) Of course, I didn't notice the beautiful old-world bungalow Mongrace is housed in, then!

... and the uildings oppsoite Mongrace are as ancient, it seems. Lovely old brick houses, with wooden shutters and verandahs spilling over onto the street, and tall iron gates... :)


And of course, the strangely vigilant Globe Detective Aency. I always thought how strange it was, that the seedy office was in a locale surrounded by schools. *grin*

Howrah Bridge II

I love this snap - I think it is so... evocatively Calcutta! :)

The second Howrah Bridge, seen from Chowringhee Avenue, at dusk. Gorgeous.

Also strolled over to the race course grounds from Chowringhee, and took these snaps of the high fences.. and again, the second Howrah Bridge beyond the fences. :)

Nandan

Headed out to Nandan one fine evening, to catch a movie and take some random snaps. This place is supposed to be the heart of Calcutta cinema, anc CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is said to spend loads of his time here. Highly subsidized rates for a really great airconditioned hall and some excellent galleries, in addition to the Academy of Fine Arts, ensures that Nandan is packed with people at all hours of the day. :)


I mean, when you consider that you get BALCONY seats for Rs 50, you kinda think that Communism isn't all that bad, really! :)

Christian Park Street

The southern end of Park Street is where my college is. Right across the street is the Park Street police station in a gorgeous red brick building, very grand and very non-police-thana-like! :) That actually reminds me of the Colaba thana here in Bombay - with the same air of old-world charm and grandeur. :)

While I'm going to post some snaps of my old college soon, just a couple of steps away is the white house where the Bishop of Calcutta lives. And right next to it, is the chapter of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Calcutta. :)

... And in case you thought that good Christians only go for gorgeous gothic buildings, think again and get prepared for the monstrous granite thing that is Assembly of God Church! :)


At the soutern end, you have the old Cemetery, a heritage site in its own right! This place has the funeral memorials/ monuments of some of the very first European inhabitants of the city, together with some notable people since then. Right in front, there's a huge plaque announcing that this is where the great Bengal Renaissance poet and teacher, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, is buried.

Nostalgia on Park Street

Park Street has a special significance for me - as corny as that may sound. I spent 15 years of my life here in this area - first at school, then college after that. And a lot of afternoons ahve been spent at the Flury's building, either at the confectionary itself, or browsing at the MusicWorld storenext to it - which happens to be India's largest, by the way. :)


Up there is Park Mansions, at the Free School Street junction of Park Street.

Mansion Cricket

This old house is right opposite my college on Park Street. Not in the very best of condition, but it's still an amazing building. Very old world charm. :) And the kids playing cricket out in front added to the charm, I think. :) :)

Shutterbug on Park Street

Walking down Park Street, I'm like this li'l Jap tourist in my shades and camera. If we start straight from the tip of Park Street, where it connects with Chowringhee Avenue, there's the great big Warren's building, housing Warrens Travels since Donkey's Ears. This place has been functional since long before independence, and though it's got several other offices in the building now, Warren's is still a fantastic part of its history.

Right opposite Warren's, there's the Asiatic Society building. And if you consult the history books, you'll learn that the Society was formed many ages ago, in 1784 to be exact, and made it quite fashionable among the British and other Europeans to delve into 'Oriental' studies.

Nestled right next to the Asiatic Society, is the Family Book Shop. :) Very family-owned, and the same homely charm of Bombay's own Strand Book Store. :) Their stall is completely mobbed every year, during the annual Calcutta Book Fair.

Queens Mansion, opposite the Park Hotel, straddles a whole block, from the Russel Street junction. This gorgeous white building houses several offices, restaurants, stores, and even a posh saloon - A. N. John's. O, and of course, we mustn't forget the little stalls selling everything from imported chocolates and false perfumes, to cigarettes and condoms. :)


The Russel Street junction is also where you have the India Hobby Centre and BigMax - Calcutta's first brush with the burger, long before McDonald's set foot in the city. The BigMax burgers were amazing - humongously large, with loads of mayo and coleslaw, and you could never not get your hands dirty eating them! :) When they opened a Rollicks ice cream parlour here, they used to dish out the largest ice cream sundaes ever - with some cones balancing upto five scoops of ice cream precariously on top! And of course, every trip ended with me and my brother gazing longingly at all the toys and games exhibited in the store windows of the Hobby Centre, on our way out... and sometimes, lighter wallets for mum and dad. :)

Gosh, and the street has these great furnishing stores - probably much cheaper than Bombay, even though these places have been around here since forver! The Oriental Carpets gallery on top is practically an institution, and so is the Nu-built store, which always has the most antique wooden four-poster beds and ornate cupboards at the windows...

The Park

Welcome to the Park, Calcutta. One of Calcutta's most famous and earliest five-star hotels, the Park was also single-handedly responsible for introducing the pub/ discotheque culture to Cal. It's discotheque, Tantra, and pub, Some Place Else, are still one of the most rocking nightspots in the city. New entrants, like the ultra-posh lounge bar here, Roxy's, are carrying on the Park tradition. :)

Oops, and yes, at night, the loooong portico of the Park does have some pimps shuffling about, offering you 'college girls' - English Honours students are supposed to be the priciest, for whatever reason! :)

For some reason, they have these two idols of Karthik and Saraswati, in traditional dhhaaker shaaj, at the entrance of Tantra, all aglow in a weird blue light! :)

O, and if you come in the mornings, you can't miss the gigantic Oxford Book Store here, under the portico. Very expansive and very sexy, if you're a book-person. :)

In the middle of Middleton Row

During my college/ school years, Middleton Row, that little patch of street behind Park Street, was mainly important for Loreto House and Loreto College. They were our sister school/ college, and there was all that fascination and swaggering bound to happen in an all-boy's school. Of course, the spire of the resident church at Loreto's - Saint Thomas - was also very impressive. but that impressed me only later on.

Went inside the chapel this time around and attended 4 pm mass. It's a small church, but very neatly done up, with very colourful paintings and murals on the walls. The service was actually conducted in indi - from the sermon to the hymns - and that was a bit of a surprise. Also, my HIndi sucks - big time. :)

Leaving the chapel, you're right in front of the old YWCA building, which also houses Golden Spoon restaurant. This place was quite afmous during the 70s for its rolls and biryanis, and mum says, she and dad were often to be founf here in thsoe days - yes, my dad was a Xaverian like me, and mum did college at Loreto! :)

And a short walk away from Golden Spoon brings you right over to Park Street - and the all-too famous Peter Cat near the junction. Peter Cat's chello kebabs are legendary! :)

Corporate Chowringhee

Chowringhee Avenue is also where Calcutta's Corporate Barons have their headquarters. And, over the years, they have also added to the fantastically grand skyline here:

Reliance House: Previously, it used to be the Reliance Industries building, but following the group split, it now houses the Calcutta chieftains of the Anil Dhurubhai Ambani Group.

Chatterjee International Centre: This used to be the tallest building in Calcutta some years ago - though the original 25 stories doesn't seem very much these days! - but is now pretty much considered unsafe. It was set up by Purnendu Chatterjee's TCG. The mosaic work on the building exterior is quite yummy, really. :)

Virginia House: That's where tobacco barons ITC rule from. :) It's a gorgeous old white building, in spotless condition.

Tata Steel Building: The company's multistoried skyscraper provides a fantastic contrast to the empty lot next door - which has this really ornate gate in front.

Kanak Building: The beautifully restored red brick building houses both Citigroup and Standard Chartered. It's currently under some more beautification/ renovation.